Expanded Summer programme for children with special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage
The Department of Education has recently announced the provision of an expanded summer education programmes for students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage, as a COVID-19 pandemic response measure, for summer 2021. Under this expansion of the summer programme, students with complex special educational needs and those at greatest risk of educational disadvantage will have access to an enhanced summer programme of education.
The programme’s aims are to support pupils to re-engage with education, to build their confidence and increase their motivation, promote wellbeing and for some who are at key transition stages, help to ensure they can move on to their planned educational placement next September along with their peers.
Following consultation with education stakeholders, a number of new initiatives and additional resources are being provided for schools running programmes this summer. This include providing funding for an Overseer role in each school and providing additional time for preparatory work. A new helpline is also being provided to handle queries. There is also a commitment to issue payments to staff involved in a more timely manner.
Primary Schools who wish to offer a school based summer programme can complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ form by Thursday 10th June on the following Department of Education link - https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/summer-programme-primary
Post-Primary Schools who wish to offer a school based summer programme can complete an ‘Expression of Interest’ form by Friday 4th June on the following Department of Education link - https://dessurveys.education.gov.ie/surveys/summer-programme-pp
A Department helpline for schools and parents is also being provided to deal with any queries on the programmes. This can be reached by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 090 648 4292
Full details of the various summer programmes on offer and all of this detail and information on how schools can apply to run programmes this summer are available now on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5d15a-summer-provision/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/summerprovision/
